Support, Opportunities and Development

EM-RACR has been designed to provide protected time, funding, mentorship and career development opportunities that enable healthcare professionals to establish and progress clinical academic careers. Backed by £1 million of Medical Research Council (MRC) funding over four years, the programme offers dedicated fellowship opportunities for a range of healthcare professions across the East Midlands, with future funding dependent on the successful delivery of the initial phase.

• MRC: Remit, programmes and priorities

To ensure support is tailored to different professional groups, EM-RACR offers two fellowship models. Nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, clinical scientists and related healthcare professionals can access up to 50% protected academic time for 12 months, while medical and dental professionals can access up to 20% protected academic time for 12 months. Across the region, the programme has the capacity to support approximately twelve fellowships for non-medical healthcare professionals and twelve fellowships for medics and dentists, with the first phase of funding supporting around half of these positions.

The success of the programme relies on strong partnership working between healthcare organisations and universities. NHS employers play a vital role by releasing staff from clinical duties to undertake academic and research activities, while university partners provide the academic infrastructure needed for success. This includes support with fellowship applications, access to experienced mentors and supervisors, research training, and the wider resources required to develop high-quality research programmes. Dedicated administrative support is also available to help manage funding arrangements and collaboration between universities and healthcare organisations.

Beyond the fellowship itself, EM-RACR is committed to supporting long-term career progression. Participants will have access to a comprehensive programme of career development, mentoring, networking opportunities, and equality, diversity and inclusion training designed to help build confidence, skills and professional networks. The programme also encourages engagement with industry partners, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange where appropriate. Through this combination of protected research time, expert support, professional development and collaborative opportunities, EM-RACR aims to create a sustainable pipeline of future clinical academic leaders across the East Midlands.